The 2011 Hall of Fame class was announced today and Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven get to make a summer trip to beautiful Cooperstown, New York.  Alomar, who should have made it last year, raised his vote total by 126, meaning that there are 126 people who don’t deserve to have a Hall of Fame vote. 

Blyleven needed to wait a little longer, making it in his 14th year of eligibility.  His numbers certainly didn’t improve over that time, so I don’t necessarily agree with his selection.  But, if Jim Rice is a Hall of Famer, why not Bert Blyleven?

Barry Larkin and Jack Morris were the only other candidates to get over 50%.  Larkin deserves to make it, and should eventually.  Morris seems destined to follow in Blyleven’s footsteps, and will become the worst player in the Hall.

Jeff Bagwell garned 41.7% in his first year of eligibility.  His name seemed to have been dragged through the mud lately, with lightly shrouded innuendo accusing him of steroid use despite not being linked to PEDs during his career.  I would think he should make it within the next 5 years or so.

Dave Parker falls off the ballot after 15 years with only 15.3% of the vote.  Cocaine derailed what may have been a HoF career.  Harold Baines was the only returning player to fall below 5% and off the ballot.  Bret Boone and Benito Santiago join the 1 vote club, while 6 others couldn’t even muster that.

Next year’s class looks exceptionally weak, with Bernie Williams being the leading new candidate.  2013 will be when the PED referrendum comes to a head, as Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Sammy Sosa hit the ballot for the first time.